Musicals - whats the deal?

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joescrivens

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I don't get musical films at all.

It makes sense at a theatre, but it doesn't make any sense to me to have a film where randomly halfway through the cast will break into song. What exactly is the reason for this?

In disney cartoons and movies I get it because its nice for children to have catchy songs to learn and sing. But why do adults want to watch a movie when the plot involves singing part of it? It just seems weird to me.

So really, what is the point of musical movies like les miserables and chicago etc?
 
I don't think they are aimed at men anyway, need a woman's perspective on this conundrum :lol:
 
My mother and sister love musicals, but I really can't stand them.

As far as I'm concerned though, if a film doesn't include killings and unrealistic explosions, it's a rubbish film. :p
 
I don't much like musicals but I don't really see any difference between a Musical on stage or on screen. In fact I'd be inclined to say if pushed that film version would be better as sets, locations etc can all be improved, not to mention the singing can be edited to be bearable!
 
On the same lines.....Opera. What's that all about? :shrug:
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
I don't much like musicals but I don't really see any difference between a Musical on stage or on screen. In fact I'd be inclined to say if pushed that film version would be better as sets, locations etc can all be improved, not to mention the singing can be edited to be bearable!
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I see a difference. Hearing someone sign live in person is a very powerful thing and thats why it belongs on the stage.

On film it really doesn't translate
 
joescrivens said:
I see a difference. Hearing someone sign live in person is a very powerful thing and thats why it belongs on the stage.

On film it really doesn't translate
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Does if you're deaf :lol: ;)
 
I think certain films work, the rocky horror picture show is the first one that springs to mind, some others I don't always get, but each to their own.
 
I'm sure there is a forum for musical lovers with a thread wondering why people like photography :thumbs:
 
I hate musicals and my wife hates them so its not a gender thing in my opinion.

and what was that film Mama Mia all about?

I like Abbas songs but what utter soosh1
 
In general I totally agree that musical films are utter rubbish. I've been forced to watch Mamma Mia in the past and it's truely awful with the songs just forced in to a poor script for the sake of it.

On the other hand though, what would Grease be without the singing? ;)
 
Entertainment is what it's about! I'm not ashamed to say I enjoyed Mama Mia the other night on tv. :)

Reality-X-face-dancing-in-the-house I will never see the appeal of though.
 
Both myself and the missus love musicals. Seeing them in the theatre is much better but film versions can be good as well.

We saw Mamma Mia in the theatre and it was brilliant. The film version was nowhere near as good but it was still fun to watch. We've also seen Les Mis but are also looking forward to the film version. Should be interesting as they actually sang the songs live on set rather than recording them separately in the studio.
 
Can't stand most of them either. Only real exception: Blues Brothers.

Rocky Horror and Little Shop of Horrors are bordering on ok.

Rest dreadful. Mamma mia was the biggest load of garbage I have ever fast forwarded through the majority of. Nothing wrong with Abba themselves. Their memories have been tarnished by that appalling film.

I loathe opera. Bunches of squealing fat birds. If I want to hear a noise that bad I'd watch TOWIE.
 
Bunch of fat birds??? You know about Opera then....



It's powerful and emotional.... Get a 60 piece orchestra and a powerful voice and you are carried away.


Carmen lots of sexy minxs rolling cigars on thighs....... I forget what the story was about but the the cigar rolling to music was very emotional.................
 
Daryl said:
Bunch of fat birds??? You know about Opera then....

It's powerful and emotional.... Get a 60 piece orchestra and a powerful voice and you are carried away.

Carmen lots of sexy minxs rolling cigars on thighs....... I forget what the story was about but the the cigar rolling to music was very emotional.................
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Had to suffer it at school and at home. Vile noise to me. Even more annoying than country and western which is another music genre I can't abide.
 
I love Disney renaissance films like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King etc and Wizard of Oz is just magic. There are a few other films I like with music / singing like Willy Wonka, Labyrinth, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks I find enjoyable - like Despicable Me as well.

But mamma mia... I cannot stand that film. It makes me feel sick. The colour grading is awful too, its got this horrible yellow faux vintage tone. My daughter had a phase of watching it every day. Luckily she knows better now. Actually I can't think of a film I hate more than mum a mia. The thought of it sends a shiver down my spine. Urrgh.

My buddy at work is into his musicals. Apparently he's going to see 'Ghost'. Can you imagine? That film is a load of vomit inducing junk, the musical is going to be nauseating hormonal bile.

I have seen a few musicals, I can't follow the stories for instance, We Will Rock You has great music, but the story was completely nonsensical. I didn't get it at all.
 
srichards said:
Had to suffer it at school and at home. Vile noise to me. Even more annoying than country and western which is another music genre I can't abide.
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Country and Western isn`t music,it is ,generally, an over rated American with a fake southern drawl explaining how crap thier lives have been to the backing of equally tedious "music"....JMO I hasten to add.
 
Singing In The Rains...
7 brides for 7 brothers...
Grease...
Moulin Rouge...
Mary Poppins...
Nightmare Before Christmas...
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Muppet Christmas Carol...
Pink Floyd: The Wall...
On Moonlight Bay...

Just a handful of brilliant films that are musicals. Massive array of subject matter produced over several decades, all with qualities that will make them stand the test of time.

How anyone can't like them I just don't know....
 
Daryl said:
Bunch of fat birds??? You know about Opera then....



It's powerful and emotional.... Get a 60 piece orchestra and a powerful voice and you are carried away.


Carmen lots of sexy minxs rolling cigars on thighs....... I forget what the story was about but the the cigar rolling to music was very emotional.................
Click to expand...

I worked in an open air Theatre\Opera in Holland Park in London one summer, never liked Opera before but it was awesome live - really amazing.

Must have been dealing with a customer during the cigar rolling though!
 
specialman said:
Singing In The Rains...
7 brides for 7 brothers...
Grease...
Moulin Rouge...
Mary Poppins...
Nightmare Before Christmas...
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Muppet Christmas Carol...
Pink Floyd: The Wall...
On Moonlight Bay...

Just a handful of brilliant films that are musicals. Massive array of subject matter produced over several decades, all with qualities that will make them stand the test of time.

How anyone can't like them I just don't know....
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+ Blue Brothers - when done well they are great - you could add Evita for some people as well.

But when done just for the sake of it badly, it doesn't work. I quite liked Mama Mia as the singing was so bad, by big stars, I enjoyed them taking the p out of themselves.

Musicals are always better live though! I worked 4 years in a theatre and got to see some amazing musicals. :)
 
specialman said:
Singing In The Rains...
7 brides for 7 brothers...
Grease...
Moulin Rouge...
Mary Poppins...
Nightmare Before Christmas...
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Muppet Christmas Carol...
Pink Floyd: The Wall...
On Moonlight Bay...

Just a handful of brilliant films that are musicals. Massive array of subject matter produced over several decades, all with qualities that will make them stand the test of time.

How anyone can't like them I just don't know....
Click to expand...

I don't like any of those films :p (except the final 2, which I haven't seen)

I do love a musical in at the theatre. I'm not sure i can explain the difference in the experience but it's a giant, gaping canyon for me.
 
specialman said:
Singing In The Rains...
7 brides for 7 brothers...
Grease...
Moulin Rouge...
Mary Poppins...
Nightmare Before Christmas...
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Muppet Christmas Carol...
Pink Floyd: The Wall...
On Moonlight Bay...

Just a handful of brilliant films that are musicals. Massive array of subject matter produced over several decades, all with qualities that will make them stand the test of time.

How anyone can't like them I just don't know....
Click to expand...

A lot of those I wouldn't class as musicals. Just films with songs in them. Muppets is awesome.

By Musicals I mean stage shows turned into movies with the singing parts still in them.
 
joescrivens said:
A lot of those I wouldn't class as musicals. Just films with songs in them. Muppets is awesome.

By Musicals I mean stage shows turned into movies with the singing parts still in them.
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Do you have ay other examples? Chicago had pretty much the same content on stage as it did in the film version. I believe the same is true of Les Miserables.
 
joescrivens said:
I don't get musical films at all.

It makes sense at a theatre, but it doesn't make any sense to me to have a film where randomly halfway through the cast will break into song. What exactly is the reason for this?

In disney cartoons and movies I get it because its nice for children to have catchy songs to learn and sing. But why do adults want to watch a movie when the plot involves singing part of it? It just seems weird to me.

So really, what is the point of musical movies like les miserables and chicago etc?
Click to expand...

I think you need to think about what you mean by 'musical'....All those I listed are musicals

BTW, Grease was a stage production before becoming a film ;)
 
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Speaking of Opera, the first one I ever saw was The Marriage of Figaro, didn't understand a word of it but loved it, Mozart was indeed a genius!
 
fabs said:
Do you have ay other examples? Chicago had pretty much the same content on stage as it did in the film version. I believe the same is true of Les Miserables.
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Mamma Mia
Rent

I have been subjected to the start of both and it made me vomit. Couldn't watch anymore.
 
Another vote for west side story and of course one of the great musicals OLIVER.
 
If it was always meant to be a musical right from the beginning then musicals can be great, I loved Les Mis on the stage, yet to see the film, I think they become a bit iffy when they try to fit older songs into a script and its just the memory of the music selling the show as in Mama Mia. I'm sure some work but not all.

Most opera is not my thing but can understand why people love it, I know she is on the popier side to classical, but I LOVE Katherine Jenkins greatest hits.

As for those who don't like country and western, I doubt many have heard much seeing there has only been one c&w album made in the last 50 years. Country music has many sub genes, just because I don't like heavy metal does not mean I don't like rock music. I doubt many could pick out a contemporary country song from a rock pop song.
 
Hair was great before it got banned again. I am glad I got to see it.
 
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